Altima moves to front of class
Nissan’s mid-size sedan boasts new look, can’t-beat fuel economy
If you’re shopping for a new mid-size sedan, count your lucky stars. There’s a whole slew of all-new cars for 2013, and it looks like a battle royal is brewing among manufacturers to win you over. Not only is the Nissan Altima new for 2013, so are the heavy-hitting Chevrolet Malibu, Ford Fusion, Honda Accord, and Mazda6. Toyota’s legendary Camry was new from the ground up in 2012 and still fresh to fight. With the mid-size sedan the second-biggest-selling passenger vehicle segment in Canada, buyers in 2013 will have the best selection ever.
Nissan brings its new Altima to the fight very well equipped and with much-needed upgrades. The Altima has always been a solid choice in the mid-size sedan segment, but among car enthusiasts, its interior has been criticized as being too plasticky, earning it the backhanded compliment of being a nice rental car. For 2013, Nissan has significantly improved the interior with attractive, soft to the touch surfaces and the feeling of quality is now very comparable to its competitors.
An all-new fifth-generation Altima means new exterior styling, and its new lines are obviously an evolution of the previous generation. The new sheet metal is handsome, with more pronounced fender flares, larger grill and fog light surrounds, and more angular, bolder headlights giving the car a fresh, yet familiar look.
Our test unit was the 2.5 SL, top-of-the-line version with the base 182-horsepower 2.5-litre naturally aspirated four-cylinder engine mated to a CVT (continuously variable transmission), plus the optional ($1,100) Technology Package that adds a navigation system, seven-inch colour display, blind-spot warning, lane departure warning, backup camera, and moving object detection.
The last feature warns the driver when an object is moving near the rear of the vehicle when the transmission is in reverse.
Our test vehicle rang in at a competitive MSRP of $30,833. Some of the much-appreciated features of the SL include keyless entry/ignition, heated steering wheel and front seats, sunroof, power trunk release, and a Bose stereo. A more powerful 3.5-litre V-6 is available.
Inside the Altima SL the cabin feels modern and roomy. One of the Altima’s great strengths is the simplicity of its instrument cluster and all the car’s controls, including those for its audio/navigation/HVAC system.
This is one vehicle that’s blissfully easy to hop into and drive. Even as a technically challenged dunderhead, I was able to quickly dive into the audio controls to set base, treble, balance and fade, and whip through the GPS system to set destinations and most other frequently used functions. Kudos to Nissan’s interior designers.
The new 2013 Altima is the lightest mid-size sedan on the market.
Nissan’s use of high-strength steel and aluminum brings the sedan in at a relatively featherlight 1,451 kilograms, some 109 kg lighter than the class fatty, 2013 4-cylinder Malibu LT. Lighter weight generally means better performance — acceleration, braking and handling — and the Altima certainly feels quicker and more responsive than the Toyota Camry LE.
But today’s Holy Grail is fuel economy, and that’s where light weight pays dividends. The Altima’s fuel economy alone ought to draw the attention of dedicated pennypinchers.
The Altima scores the best fuel economy rating of any mid-size four-cylinder gasoline, automatic transmission, front-wheel-drive sedan — an impressive 7.4 city/5.0 highway litres per 100 km.
The new Altima has its share of irritants, but these are things one can live with. The excellent CVT transmission occasionally emits a barely audible mechanical hissing sound, steering wheel and front seat heaters seem slow and uneven until fully warm, and the trunk has no inside handle or strap; you’ll be covering your hands in road grime every time you close the trunk.
Still, Nissan entered the 2013 sales fray well-armed and ready to duke it out with the big dogs.
The 2013 Nissan Altima SL handles confidently and the 2.5 SL is an excellent choice as one of the top picks of this year’s crop of worthy, mid-size family sedans.